Beverage brewer spray apparatus having multiple dispersion members

Abstract

A beverage brewer spray apparatus includes a lid, dispersal members, and a skirt. The lid has an obverse and converse surfaces. The dispersal members extend from the converse surface of the lid at open proximal ends of the dispersal members. The skirt has a proximal end fixed to and extending outward from the converse surface of the lid. Each dispersal member has a sidewall and a distal end defining an interior of the dispersal member. The sidewall has apertures arranged in a distal section of the sidewall. The lid has through-holes formed between the obverse and converse surfaces, and the dispersal members are fixed to the converse surface such that the through-holes provide fluid communication from the obverse surface of the lid to the apertures through the interiors of the dispersal members. The apertures are configured to direct liquid outward from the dispersal members.

I claim: 
     
       1. A beverage brewer spray apparatus, comprising:
 a lid having an obverse surface, a converse surface, and an open peripheral edge; 
 a plurality of dispersal members fixed to and extending from the converse surface of the lid at an open proximal end of the dispersal member; and 
 a skirt having a proximal end fixed to and extending outward from the converse surface of the lid at a distance from the dispersal members; 
 wherein each said dispersal member has a sidewall and a distal end together defining an interior of the dispersal member, wherein the sidewall has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, wherein the apertures are arranged in a distal section of the sidewall, and wherein the distal end is at least partially closed; 
 wherein the lid has a plurality of lid through-holes formed between the obverse surface and the converse surface, and each said dispersal member is fixed to the converse surface of the lid such that a corresponding one of the plurality of lid through-holes provides fluid communication from the obverse surface of the lid to the plurality of apertures through the interior of the corresponding dispersal member; and 
 wherein the apertures are configured to direct liquid from the interior of the dispersal members generally outward from the dispersal members. 
 
     
     
       2. The beverage brewer spray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures perforate an edge of the distal end of at least one of the dispersal members. 
     
     
       3. The beverage brewer spray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are arranged in a row around an end of at least one of the dispersal members. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are configured within a thickness of the sidewalls of the dispersal members to direct liquid from the interior of the dispersal members generally outward from the dispersal members to at least the distance from the dispersal members. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the apertures are configured as to at least one of shape and angle within the thickness of the sidewalls of the dispersal members. 
     
     
       6. The beverage brewer spray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are angled within a thickness of the sidewalls of the dispersal members so as not to be perpendicular to the sidewalls of the dispersal members. 
     
     
       7. The beverage brewer spray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are arranged in a distal half of the dispersal member. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the dispersal members extends from the converse surface of the lid a distance that is farther than a distance that the skirt extends from the converse surface of the lid. 
     
     
       9. The beverage brewer spray apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apertures are arranged a distance away from the converse surface of the lid that is farther than a distance that a distal end of the skirt is arranged from the converse surface of the lid. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the dispersal members extends from the converse surface of the lid a distance that is farther than a distance that at least one other dispersal member extends from the converse surface of the lid. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the obverse surface and the converse surface are substantially planar and parallel to each other. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the dispersal member is sealed to the converse surface of the lid at the lid through-hole. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal portion of the skirt extends from the converse surface of the lid at a substantially right angle and a distal portion of the skirt tapers inward. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is fixed to the converse surface of the lid at a distance from the peripheral edge of the lid such that a peripheral portion of the lid extends beyond an outside surface of the skirt, forming a ledge of the lid around the skirt. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the ledge is configured to be supported on an outer edge of a brewing chamber, and the skirt is configured to be arranged within the brewing chamber when the ledge is supported on the outer edge of the brewing chamber. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the skirt is configured to engage a sidewall of the brewing chamber such that the skirt is removably coupled to the brewing chamber such that the lid seals an open end of the brewing chamber. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is tiered such that a portion of the skirt closest to the lid has a larger diameter than a portion of the skirt farthest from the lid. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is tapered such that a portion of the skirt closest to the lid has a larger diameter than a portion of the skirt farthest from the lid. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a distance that the skirt extends outward from the converse surface of the lid is at least half a distance that the dispersal member extends from the converse surface of the lid. 
     
     
       20. A beverage brewer and spray apparatus arrangement, comprising:
 a beverage brewer; and 
 the beverage brewer spray apparatus of  claim 1 ; 
 wherein the beverage brewer includes a plurality of injection tubes, a brewing chamber configured to receive fluid from the injection tubes, and an outflow tube configured to receive fluid from the brewing chamber; 
 wherein the skirt is configured to guide the dispersal members into an open proximal end of the brewing chamber such that the dispersal members are arranged within an interior of the brewing chamber; 
 wherein each said lid through-hole is configured to receive a corresponding end of one of the injection tubes such that each said dispersal member receives the fluid from the corresponding injection tube and disperses the received fluid through the plurality of apertures; 
 wherein the apertures are configured to direct the fluid generally outward from the dispersal member against a sidewall of the brewing chamber; and 
 wherein the outflow tube is configured to receive the dispersed fluid from the brewing chamber.